External Tools to Facilitate Student-Student Interaction

Google has a pretty spectacular collection of tools that support active learning during a Zoom (OnlineLIVE) class session. Below are resources and suggestions for using Docs Links to an external site., Slides Links to an external site., and Jamboard Links to an external site.

Note: 

  • To use the tools within Google Suite, you must first create a Google (gmail) account. 
  • Sharing is the key to collaboration in G Suite! To make a Doc, Slides, or Jamboard collaborative (which is key!), you must click Share and adjust the settings to allow Anyone with the link to Edit. 

Google Docs

Docs can be a replacement for a simple word processing application, like MS Word, and it can also be a simple way to create a place for a small group of students to collaborate or for a whole class to take collaborative notes. If you wish to have small groups of students use their own Google Doc to collaborate, you'll need to create these Docs in advance. Here's a process that will keep it pretty simple.

  1. Create the Main Doc. The Main Doc will be like your collaboration portal. 
  2. Now click Share and adjust the settings to allow Anyone with the link to Edit. 
  3. Determine how many breakout rooms you'll have. Three to four students is a good number for a small group. (For a class of thirty, plan for seven groups.)
  4. Create one Google Doc.
    • Type very clear, simple instructions for the students in that group at the top of the Doc.
    • Change the title to Breakout Room #1.
    • Now click Share and adjust the settings to allow Anyone with the link to Edit. 
    • Copy the Share link.
    • Return to the Main Doc.
    • Type "Breakout Room #1 Notepad" in the doc.
    • Highlight that text with your mouse, select the Insert link icon from the toolbar
    • Paste the link to the Doc in the Link field
    • Now the text Breakout Room #1 Notepad is a hot link
  1. Make a copy of the Google Doc named Breakout Room #1. To do so, go to File and choose Make a copy.
  • Change the name of the copy to Breakout Room #2
  • Repeat the steps above 
  1. Continue to make copies of the Doc until you have a notepad link for each breakout room group on the Main Doc.
  2. During your live session, copy the link to your Main Doc and paste it in the chat. Prompt students to open it before you start the breakout rooms. It is a good idea to ask students to use the Non-verbal gestures (Yes/No) in the Reactions area to indicate when they've opened it. Once the class is ready, you may start the breakout rooms.

Google Slides

Google Slides is like an online Powerpoint. You can use Google Slides in a way that is similar to Google Docs but it works best if you have clear, specific goals for your students. Use this Breakout Room Notepad Links to an external site. template as an end of class active learning strategy

      • Want to make your own copy? Log in to your Google Account, select File (top left corner of the slides), and choose Make a copy.
      • That copy will be saved into your Google Drive and you can edit the text on the slides as you'd like. 
      • If you want to create your own version of a notepad like this one, we recommend designing the background image using Canva.com (a free graphic design tool). Use the dimensions 1280x720 pixels to ensure the shape of your image matches the shape of the slides. Once the image is downloaded to your computer, open Google Slides and choose Background, Choose image, and browse for your lovely image.
      • Get started with Google Slides Links to an external site. Links to an external site.

Google Jamboard 

Jamboard is the newest addition to G Suite. Think of it as a collaborative digital bulletin board. There's so much potential! With Jamboard, you can easily create a "Jam" that invites your students to draw or add shapes, colored notes, images or text. To prepare your collaborative workspace, you can simply use a blank board and type a prompt at the top or you can choose Set background and upload an image into the background. This opens lots of creative active learning opportunities! A Jamboard can have one single Jam within it or multiple Jams so you might consider creating a Jam for each course or course section. This way, you can continue to add to it during the term and when you reteach your course next time, all the content will be there for you. It's easy to reset a Jamboard simply by clicking Clear frame.

These resources are part of the College of the Canyons Intro to OnlineLIVE Teaching & Learning Course, adapted from Introduction to Live Online Teaching & Learning by CVC-OEI Links to an external site., licensed under a CC-BY Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License Links to an external site..